Collapsible tube cap



P' 1958 J. v. PONTILLO 2,851,205

COLLAPSIBLE TUBE CAP Filed Nov. 30, 1956 INVENTOR. JAMES v. PONHLLD J MWW ATTORNEYS United States Patent O ce COLLAPSIBLE TUBE CAP James V. Pontillo, Batavia, N. Y.

Application November 30, 1956, Serial No. 625,453

1 Claim. (Cl. 222-557) This invention relates generally to new and useful improvements in tube caps and more particularly to an improved tube cap for tubes of the collapsible type for dispensing toothpaste, ointments and the like.

Conventional collapsible pressure deformable dispensing tubes generally have thereon a separable threaded tube cap which may be readily lost when the dispensing tube is used, often falling into the drain of a bathroom lavatory, for example, and accordingly generally unsatisfactory.

A primary obeject of invention is to provide a dispensing cap assembly which is adapted for attachment to a discharge neck of a dispensing container.

A still further object of invention in conformance with that set forth is to provide a dispensing cap of the character involved which is readily and economically manufactured, easily used, and highly satisfactory and practical for the purpose intended.

These together with other objects and advantages which will subsequently become apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a collapsible tube incorporating an exemplary embodiment of the novel tube cap structure thereon;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the collapsible tube of Figure 1, showing by meansof phantom lines the manner in which the cap assembly thereof may be laterally displaced to permit dispensing of the contents of the collapsible tube;

Figure 3 is a section taken substantially on the plane of line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section taken substantially on the plane of line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a section taken substantially on the plane of line 5-5 of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is a section taken substantially on the plane of line 6-6 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawing in detail, indicated generally at 10 is a fragmentary upper end portion of a container or collapsible tube including an integral discharge neck 12 in communication with the interior of said tube, said discharge neck having a circular cross section, if preferred. The discharge neck 12 has a mounting ledge 14 projecting exteriorly from the neck adjacent the upper edge 16 thereof, the ledge being flush with the upper edge of the neck 12.

Indicated generally at 18 is a cap assembly including a cover plate 20 which conformably engages and closes the upper edge 16 of the discharge neck 12. The cover plate 20 has a handle 22 which projects therefrom, the handle having a portion adjacent the cover plate sup- 2,851,205 Patented Sept. 9, 1958 ported upon and connected to the mounting ledge 14 for swinging movement of the cover plate about a vertical axis or pin 24 from the position closing the upper edge 16 of the neck 12 to a position away from the upper edge of the neck, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 3. Accordingly, in order to have available the contents of the collapsible tube one need only to grasp the tube in his hand and by engaging the handle 22 with his thumb laterally displace the cover plate 20 relative to the open upper end of the discharge neck and accordingly by squeezing the tube dispense the contents of the same.

The cover plate 20 has a skirt 28 extending partway thereabout or from the portion of the handle adjacent the plate 20 to a point substantially opposite said handle portion, the skirt 28 being provided with a notched-out portion 32 extending inwardly from the side edge 30 adjacent the handle portion adjacent the cover plate 20 accommodating the ledge 14 of the discharge neck 12 when the cover plate 20 is in the closing position, as shown in Figure 1.

Incorporated integral with the discharge neck 12 and extending exteriorly thereabout is an integral rib 34 incorporating an angular surface portion 36 in angular relationship relative to the outer surface of the neck 12. The skirt 28 incorporates on the inner periphery thereof an elongated groove 38 substantially conforming to the rib 34 and being wedgedly engaged thereupon when the cap assembly is closed, as shown in the position of Figure 1, for example. The rib 34 on the neck 12 and the groove 38 on the skirt 28 constitute interengaging means on the skirt and neck respectively for anchoring the cap assembly 18 on the neck 12.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes 'will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

In a dispensing device, the combination with a container having a discharge neck, a mounting ledge projecting exteriorly from said neck adjacent the upper end thereof, of a cap assembly including a cover plate conformably engaging and closing the upper edge of said neck, a handle projecting from the perimeter of said cover plate and integral with and coplanar with said cover plate, said handle having the portion adjacent said cover plate overlying said ledge and having the portion adjacent the free end projecting beyond said ledge and of a length for permitting operation upon application of a laterally applied force by the finger of a user, a vertical pivot pin extending through the portion of the handle adjacent said cover plate and supported in said ledge connecting said cover plate to said ledge for swinging movement from the position closing the upper edge of said neck to a position away from the upper edge of said neck, a skirt depending from said cover plate and extending from said handle to a point substantially opposite said handle, and an exterior rib on said neck and interengaging a horizontal groove formed on said skirt for anchoring said cap assembly on said neck.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

